Fruit cutter and stoner



Aug. 1, 1950 H. PESCH 2,517,342

FRUIT CUTTER AND STONER Filed May 8, 1946 5 Sheets-$heet l 1, 1950 H. PESCH 2,517,342

FRUIT CUTTER AND STQNER Filed May 8. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1, 1950 H. PESCH 2,517,342

FRUIT CUTTER AND STONER Filed May 8. 1946 5 Shee ts-Sheet 3 MWMZMPW Aug. 1, 1950 H. PESCH 2,517,342

FRUIT CUTTER AND STONER Filed May 8. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 k *n\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ X o o K L x Hg l fi Patented Aug. 1, 1950 ".2."

UNITED STATES ATEN TTOFFICE. j

FRUIT CUTTER AND s'roNEn Herman Pesch, Fayetteville,.N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, "1110., N; Yi, a corporation of New York New York.

Application May s, 1946, Serial n 668.250

12 Claims. (Cl. 146-28) 1m: inventionset out in the following specifi- Fruit of this character frequently drledor prepared for the market without first removing the pits or stones. However, when the stones are ellipsoidal rather than left with the fruit, there is greater likelihood of fermentation developing during the dryin process.

- In theremoval of the pits it is important to divide the fruit alongthe plane occupied by the seam or fold. Care must also be'taken not to bruise, crush or otherwiseimpair the flesh or pulp of the fruit in the pittingbperation.

An object of my invention is to remove the stones or pits from drupaceous fruit in a rapid manner with the least likelihood of damage to the flesh of thefruit. Specifically, the material treated will be prunes, plums andthe like;

A further object of my invention is to accomf plish the removal of the stones from ellipsoidal fruit, taking care that the latter isdividedalon the plane of its fold or seam.

A still further object of my invention is to present the individual fruits to the stone separating mechanism in such a manner as to split the fruit. along the fold or seam.

Among the objects of my invention is also the successful separation of the stones from the fruit afiter' the latter has been split in the manner described.

: An incident of my invention is to increase the quantity of fruit whichmay be treated simultaneously and thus expedite the pitting. I

Further objects of my invention will be readily understood and others will be apparent from the:

description of the preferred form of my inven-:

tion as illustrated by way of example in the at- Y tached drawings. In the latter:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of theassembled machine; l

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, some parts being shown in vertical section; J i

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the side opposite to i that shown in Fig. 1 and also in part vertical section; I

Fig. 4 is a top plan 'view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front: elevationjsome of the parts being shown in vertical section;

an a front view or the stripper plate; i t ri u ate the side bars '21, there is;

- IT carried on a [shaft H which, in turn; mounted on bearings l9, IS on opposite sides or of Fig. 4;

. p 2 Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the stripper plate taken on the line 1----! of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section of the guiding ribs or partitions taken on the line 2-8 Fig. 9 is a horizontal transverse section of the. same elements taken on the line 9--9 of Fig.1 1 and H v v i.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the oscillating deflector fingers.

Briefly considered, the machine provides meahs by which soft; pulpy fruits of ellipsoidal form are 1 fed in qantity over a traveling belt. The material is then diverted into channels where the efiect of the belt is then to place the individual fruit in proper position for presentationto the pitting knives. 'Eachfruit is advanced in such a .positionthat itis presented with its fold or scam in the plane of the rotary pitting knife. The knife then not only splits the fruit, but also engages the pit and pushes it laterally from the pulp and through slots in the stripper plate. In this way the pits areseparated from the pulp and disposed" of while the pulp is dropped onto a delivery belt or conveyor. Any fragments of pits not thus disposed oi will be separated from the pulp during 1 the travel of the latter over the delivery conveyor.

The machine as illustrated in the drawings comprises a frame lion which the several structural elements are assembled. A series of uprights [2 are continued at thetop to form crossj bars [3. These cross bars form supports for trac'ksor guideways l4, I4, one beingarrangedf longitudinally on each side of the frame. Side" il'ailsli liextend upwardly from the tracks The tracks carry a horizontally extending end 3 less feed or conveyorbelt [6 which may be of" suitable resilient material such as rubber, metal" mesh or the like; The 1.61m is driven by drum the frame. One end of the shaft 18 carriesv a pulley2ll which has a beltordrive chain 21 The O belt 2| runs over a pulley 22 on a countershaft 23; f The counter-shaft is part of a speed reducer? 2 4 drivenby an electric motor25. Thernotorf 25 is mounted on a platform 26 between the lower parts of uprights 12,12.

Mountedon the frame above the belt Iii and "opposite sides thereof is apair of side bars 21, 21." As shown in Fig. 8,theseside'bars have vertical outer surfaces jbut the inside surface has an overhanging tapered wall28.

the rear portion of the machine the bars 21 and 29 are fitted tightly together (see Fig.4) a-ncl'suitably supported from the side members of the frame H.

The rear portion 3! of the bars 29 extend downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 and are generally a in contact as indicated on Fig. 4. At a lower portion of the vertical sections 3|, however, the bars are narrowed to form slots 3! in the meeting planebetween adjacent bars.

The underside of the sections 31 'are'cu't away to'r'orm chutes 33 as will be clear from Figs.'3

and 9. I

The overhanging and converging walls of the bars 29 cooperate with the belt conveyor it to cause the fruit to tumble'o'r rotate "on a trans verse axis at a right angle to the plane of the seam or fold in the fruit. This effect is continued in the vertical chutes 33. vidual fruits are presented with the plane of theseam coincidental with the rotary stoning cutters.

'Asecond cross bar 34 is mounted on the side rails 1'5 by means of "brackets 35, and is slightly injadvance of the front ends of the side bars 21 and sections 30. A seriesofoscillating fingers or deflectors '36 are suspended from iiheflcua'rjii' l above and in advance ofthe front ends of the members .of the bar sections '30.. The liingers 36 are capable of oscillatingin alhorizontal plane due to being loosely .mounted upon'a series of pivot pins 31 depending: from the cross bar 34.

Thus the indi- In the front of th'e machine the bars l2! and 29 are suspended beneath across bar 32.

m rr- 4 51. The cutter shaft 5'! also has a pulley 58 driven by means of a chain or belt 59 from any suitable source of power.

The shaft 51 has a series of fixed blades 60. These blades are mounted between an end collar BI and a series of spacers 62. The opposite end of the series of blades is clamped by means of a co11ar'63 and lock nuts 64; threaded on the shaft 51. As shown in Fig. 2 the'cutters 60 are in alignment with the slots 3| between the vertical members 3|.

The cutters-60 are in the form of disks having a series of spaced teeth 65 faced forwardly in the'direction of rotation.

. It'wfll be apparent from Fig. 3 that the cutters 60 extend through the slots 3| and also --through the chutes or throats 33.

On the 01)- I posite side of the chutes 33 there is a stripper i The .fingers extend forwardly to form n'ar rowed or tapering blades 38. These blades are in .Il'ine with members .30 and generallylin the same elevation over the feed belt l6 as indicated in Fig. 10.

Therear .ends 39 of the fingers 38 areforked to 'rceilve a push rod 40thatrextends transverselyof the machine. A pivot pin 4| connects the pushrod 4'0 witheach rear end 39 and permits the fingers to oscillateflwhen the push .rod .is reciprocated transversely of the machine.

A spring 42 surrounds a reduced end 43 of rod 40. The end 43, slides freely through a bracket on the frame and which serves an abutment .for the spring.

The opposite reduced end 44 of the push rod extends through and beyond the bracket 45 on. the track 14 and carries a yoke 46. This yoke has a loose roller 41.

On a bracket 48 on the frame beneath the bracket 45, there is mounted a,journa1 bearing 49. This bearing carries a shaftill on which is mounted a pulley '51. On the shaft 5Com the.

on each side a bracket 55. These brackets form supports 'for journals '56,"56' for a cutter shaft the and generally'along'the'Ipla on th plate 66. The stripper plate is mounted on the brackets 55 or other suitable part of the frame. on the side opposite fromthe -cutterstfl,"the plateBB has anapron or deflector 61.

The stripper plate '66 has a tapering upper edgeffit' faced away from the 'chutes"3-3. The

.- plategis slotted 'as'ish-own attS in Fig." 6 opposite each 'cutter'i'ifl. The bottoms ofthe slots 63 are narrowed as at 10 to clear the cutters't l, but" closely surround the latter. I f

ffThe width or the s1ot 63 'is"'sufllci enttof perj mitthe-seed or pit of thejifruitto bebarriedj through the wide portions of'the. slots but "to be stripped from the cutters at the 'narrow'por 012$ 70 of the slots. i .Fig'. '7 [shows the sloping end of the slot .10. and the twosloping shoulder'sfbetwee'n the slots: 69fand it. Each of these slope's'is flopposi'tethe upper edge of thestripper plate." v

The sides of .theira'ine ll carry .jsli'de'b'ear'ings H .for a pair of journals. 12, 121. ThelOurnals are adjusted alongltheslide bearings ll'fby means of tensioning bolts '13. "Thebearin'gs fn carry a loose shai-tjM onwh'ichis mounted a drum (5: extending across 'the frame; A discharge belt I15 passesover the drum 15 and extends to any convenient discharge point. The belt may be of any flexible material but pre'ierably'ds an ope'rl me'sh metal fabric on. which the cut halves of the fruit will ,rest WhiIe. fragments of the pits or'stone's will drop through to aseparatedischarge. v 'Transversely above the series .of I cutters "161) the-Ijc-isa spra pipe 11., i'l'hi'sfis supported on hangers '18. Jet's of rinsing ater are directed from the pipe T1 againstthe s'id'e's loffthe cutters f 60 to prevent the'lat'ter from "becoming Igumniy with thejuice of the fruit. i

'Tneicutters G0 are housed ma shie'l dfwl" Themachin'e asdescribed above serves to i'c-=" ceive fruitiofthe"requisite-type in'large quantity onthetravelingreed belt: As the frdit'progresses, it is divertedinto the chutes between the par-ti dons by means of -t=he oscillating deflectors. tween the partitions theiruitis caused to roll or 1 tumble. At the same-time the overhangingand; taperingwalls \0f .the partitions: nrient the individual fruit into positions with their majorraxes. longitudinally pf .the.machine.w:.-Tl'1us the fruits are delivered longitudinally into the: concentric chutesSiL These chutes togetheravith the ;stripper..-.1alat .mrm.a er al na a w rast th area where the chutes or channels are sected bythe thintoothed cutter blades. j

,the fruits. are .thus presented to v the mutter blades, the. latter split the, i it longitudinally seam or "fold stones or pits and push them lat'erallycagainst the stripper plate. A '1 The upper portions of the slots in thestripper plate arelwide enough topermit: the pits to be pushed throughby the teeth on the cutters. The stones. are thuscaused to drop on the deflector plate and into a receptacle or convenient means of disposal. i i i v 1 l i The divided or split sections of the pitted fruit will adhere to the sides of 'thecutters but are separated from them by means of the lowerextensions of the partitions or channels. Thus the pulp sections fall onto the discharge belt and are carried away. i .,In the event that a stone or pit is engaged crosswise by a cutter, and is toolarge to be forced through the slot in the stripper plate, the pit wil1 be crushed transversely and will drop away with-the pulp sections. To meet this possibility. the discharge belt is of open character which will permit the pit portions to drop through and be disposedof. v 1 i As the juice of the fruit tends to dry on the sides of the cutters and become'gummy or adhesive, it is desirable to provide a water spray onthe cutters immediately before they engage the fruit. 3

The above arrangement of the machine is simple, rugged and efl'icient. The several features and structural elements have been described for purposes of illustration only and it is to be understood that various changes in size, proportions and materials is possible without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending vertically down the side of the drum, a circular toothed cutter between each the drum, said partitions converging toward the drum, a circular toothed cutter between each pair of partitions and a vertical stripper plate tangential to the belt as it passes around the drum, said plate having vertical slots with narrow inner portions intersected closely by the cutters and wider outer portions through which the stones are carried b the teeth of the cutters.

3. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending vertically down the side of the drum, said partitions being wider at the top than at the bottom, a circular toothed cutter between each pair of partition and a vertical plate tangential to the belt as it passes around the drum, said plate having vertical slots with narrow inner portions intersected closely by the cutters and wider outer portions through which the stones are carried by the teeth of the cutters.

4. A machine for removing stones from fruitcomprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending vertically down the side of the 6 drum; deflectors pivotallyrmounted in :advanceio! each partition, means for oscillating-said deflect tors laterally parallel. and adjacentnthe moving belt, a circular toothed cutter oppositefthe' drum between each pair of partitionsmand a ertical plate tangential to the belt as it rpasses around the drum, said plate having verticalsslotswith narrow inner. portions intersected closely i by the cutters and wider outer portions through which thestones. are carried by the teeth 'ofthe cutters.

5. A machine for removing stones fromyfruit comprising a drum; an endlessieed belt-:running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying ;the belt'and extending down the side ofrthedrum; a cross-bar oVerthefront ofwthapartitions; a series of deflectors pivotally mounted, atuintere mediate points onthe cross-bar and extendin in front of the partitions parallel a'ndadjacent themoving belt, the rear ends ofcthe'ideflectors being fastened to a second cross-fbam means for oscillating the second crossebarlaterally, acire cular toothed cutter oppositethe' drum. between each pair of partitions and a vertical plate tangential to the belt as it passes'around the drum, said plate having vertical slots .with narrowinner portions intersected closely by the" cutters and wider outer portions through Lwhicht. the stones are carried by the teeth of the cutters.

6. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending down the side of the drum, said partitions being cut away to provide channels concentric with the drum, a circular toothed cutter opposite the drum between each pair of partitions and intersecting said channels and a vertical stripper plate beneath the drum and parallel to its axis and intersected b the cutters.

'7. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending down the side of the drum. said partitions being cut away to provide channels concentric with the drum, said channels having converging side walls, a circular toothed cutter opposite the drum between each pair of partitions and intersecting said channels and a vertical stripper plate beneath the drum and parallel to its axis and intersected by the cutters.

8. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending vertically down the side of the drum, said partitions being cut away to provide channels concentric with the drum, a circular toothed cutter opposite the drum between each pair of partitions and intersecting said channels and a vertical stripper plate intersected by the cutters and forming a side wall for said channels.

9. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endless feed belt running Over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the belt and extending vertically down the side of the drum, a circular toothed cutter between each pair of partitions said cutter being rotatable in the direction opposite to that of the drum and on an axis parallel thereto, and a vertica1 plate tangential to the belt as it passes around the drum, said plate having vertical slots with narrow inner portions intersected closely by the cutters and wider outer portions through which the stones are carried by the teeth of the cutters.

10. A machine for removing stones from fruit comprising a drum, an endles feed belt running over the drum, parallel partitions overlying the momma belt-end extending down the side of-the drum'to term-vertical vchannels, a vertical stripper plate parallel "to the drum: axis and forming aside wall for said channel's, said plate having vertical slots with narrowiinner "portions and wider outer poropposite :each channel and a circular toothed cutter :between each pair of partitions tritemeetingthev channel and .both portions of the ing the channel and :both portions of the said slot oi" vthe plate, :said partitions being extended :be-

the area intersected t by the cutters.

1'2. Am'ae'hine for removing stones from fruit comprising .a drum, an endless feed belt running over the I drum, parallel bars :for orienting ellip soidal fruit with :the stones in :a longitudinal plana'iongitudinally disposed rotary toothed cut- 8 tars opposite the drum, partitions extending over the belt and downwardly beyond and between the cutters for guiding the :fruit thus oriented to the cutters, s, vertical stripper plate parallel :to the drum axis and tangential to the cutters, said plate having vertical slots with narrow inner portions intersected closely b the cutters and wider outer portions to permit lateral removal of stones en- 'gaged by the toothed cutters, said partitions .at their lower ends serving to .remove the sections of the fruitpnlp.from'theicutters.

' IERMAN PESCH.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the iiie or this'patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'I'S Number 

